Final day before departure- Leaning on God!

Hi all:

Less than 20 hours now until final departure!  The kids are (hopefully) enjoying their final day at school and Kimberly and I are progressing through our final packing check list items and finishing up last minute tasks around the house.  Tonight we go out for our final hamburger (remember cows are holy in Nepal) for six months, get a good night’s sleep and then are on our way!

I wanted to get one more update out before we take to the air.  I had intended to do so yesterday, but due to an unforeseen electrical issues (the power company was putting an electronic meter on our house and discovered deeper electrical issues in their main) we were without power for most of the day yesterday.  This also meant that besides the update, several other items (like clothes washing, house final house cleaning, etc.) got postponed until today. 

At church on Sunday I shared that one of the biggest challenges we face in South Asia is not having control of so many things in our environment.  Here in America we really have developed a comfortable and controlled life so contrastive to life in South Asia.  I shared that this biggest challenge is also our greatest blessing as it forces us to lean on God for EVERYTHING (which is what our hearts really desire to do).  Frankly (and honestly), this is just harder for us to do in a place where everything is comfortable and controlled.  Perhaps our pursuit of safe and convenient lives has led to our spiritual atrophy as a nation?   

So, as yesterday’s unexpected power cut hit, I just had to smile and say “okay, God, what do we do now?”  How ironic to be in a place with such steady and regular power (power cuts are rare and almost romantic here) and be reminded of this fact, while we are headed to a place with half day power cuts are still the norm! 

We also have one more upcoming known “opportunity” to lean on God tomorrow and we would like to ask you to join us in praying for God’s provision.      We will be attempting to check our luggage (with US limits) from Seattle all the way to our final destination (Kathmandu).  We have done this before but are flying a new airline from Bangkok-New Delhi-Kathmandu and our Asian carrier tells me that we may have to collect our luggage in Bangkok and re-check it in with the second airline.  If we have to do this 1) we lose our US luggage allowance (2 bags 50 lbs each) en route and will only get 1 bag at 44 lbs each from Bangkok (which means having to pay overweight charges for some and for extra bags as well) and 2) we will need to pass through immigration to collect our bags (and pay visa and airport tax fees) and re-check our bags paying all of the extra costs noted above.  And we will also have a time factor to worry about as well (we only have about four hours in Bangkok). So, please pray 1) that we lean on God in the process, 2) that we could find favor and grace from the staff in Seattle and Bangkok who may be able to facilitate seeing our luggage checked all the way to our final destination without further cost, 3) for provision if they can’t do this, and 4) for wisdom about how hard to push at Bangkok if necessary. By the way, one of the bags contains refrigerated lab supplies for the hospital, so there is particular urgency that our luggage not get lost. 

Okay, that’s all to report for now.  I am sure other things will arise during the journey (they always do) so pray that we will use those opportunities to lean on God!

Dave (for all the Beines)